Step 2: Make a filter for Google Suggest

The q param is the query the user typed in the search box or address bar. If the user types a phrase or a keyword, that's the q param.

If the user chose a suggestion from the Google Suggest list, the q param becomes that suggestion. The oq param is in that case the previous query the user typed in the search box or address bar.

The combination of the suggested query and the original query can give you more insight into a users intention at that time. Interesting? Yes!

That said, lets add the filter to the Google Analytics profile.

Go to the list of profiles and click the Google Suggest profile you just made.

Next? Add a new filter.

Create a custom filter and name the filter "G – Suggest". Add the regexes, catch the variables in the Campaign Term and save the filter.

Step 3: Clear white spaces

You might add a secondary filter to clean those white spaces (%20's) out of the queries.

Et vwala!

What do I get as result?

You'll get something like this:

Notice the empty brackets? That is where the user just typed a query without choosing a suggestion.

Notice the part of the full q param on line 20? That's the part the user typed before clicking on the suggestion Google made.

What can I do with this?

Actually. A lot. It gives you a lot of insights on what people actually type and when they go for a suggestion. That's very useful information.

For instance, it confirms if need to focus on Google Suggest or not if it comes to (extra) keyword research. You have to ask yourself if focusing on specific Google Suggest phrases is the right thing to do and spend your time on.